Pivotal Swindale Shield ninth round afternoon

Above: Hutt Old Boys Marist prop Simon Malaeulu running freely last weekend against Johnsonville. Sunshine and tight forwards galloping in open spaces could both be rare tomorrow as more harsh weather is forecast and several games have been moved. Visit Draws & Results across the top of this page for updated times and venues.?

Given the compressed nature of this year’s Swindale Shield, this week’s Round 9 is a pivotal one in terms of the chase for the Jubilee Cup places with plenty of possible outcomes.

The same also applies at the top end of the Harper Lock Shield, where two places are up for grabs in the Hardham Cup.

As a reminder; in the event of a tie on competition points for first-place the title and trophy will be shared. If there is a tie between two teams that affects qualification for the Jubilee or Hardham Cups the first tie-breaker is the result of the round-robin match, with points-difference used only if that match was drawn or those sides did not meet during the competition. If three or more are tied then a mini-table method is used. Over the last 10 years it’s taken in the vicinity of the low-mid 20s in competition points to secure a top 8 place, though Norths have missed out each of the last two years despite claiming 27 in both, and a similar fate may befall a team this year.

There are a number of interclub trophies at stake this weekend. Hutt Old Boys Marist will defend the Roy John Trophy (John was a Wellington rugby and cricket rep who played for both Poneke and the original Hutt FC) against Poneke as well as the Bill Brien Challenge Cup. Tawa and Norths will contest the Sammy Saili Memorial Trophy (Saili played over 200 Premier games combined for the two clubs, the trophy is held by Tawa), while Wellington and Wainuiomata (holders) play for the Bill Jones Cup. Johnsonville and Oriental-Rongotai meet for the Ash Pointon Cup (Pointon was a stalwart of both clubs, it is held by Johnsonville after their upset 19-16 win last year), and Avalon and Petone have the Morgan Family Trophy (who have ties to both clubs, held by Avalon from last year’s Senior 1 match) at stake.

This week’s weather has already been a factor, with several grades having their rounds postponed at least, while the 1st XV Festival games scheduled for the Petone Rec have been cancelled outright. That will continue to be factor tomorrow with many of the games that are going ahead being relocated and/or at new times. It will also of course, change how the matches themselves are played.

Premier Swindale Shield

Hutt Old Boys Marist

Currently: 1st on 38 points

Road home: Poneke (home), Tawa (home), Ories (away)

16 points ahead of 9th place, the Eagles are the only team to have confirmed their place in the Jubilee Cup, and Tawa’s loss last weekend means that they have one hand firmly on the Swindale Shield. There is also the possibility they could yet match Norths’ 2010 record of 53 points out of a possible 55. If results break their way they could secure the Swindale this weekend on their Old Timers’ Day when they host a Poneke side fighting to make the top eight, though next week’s home tilt against Tawa still seems to be where it could be decided.

Tawa

Currently: 2nd on 31 points

Road home: Norths (home), HOBM (away), Petone (away)

Tawa’s loss to Wainuiomata means they now rely on HOBM slipping up somewhere other than just their head-to-head matchup next weekend if they are to regain the Swindale. Their first order of business though is this week’s local tilt against Norths at Lyndhurst, where they could secure their Jubilee Cup place, before away trips to the two Recs to conclude the round.

Wellington

Currently: 3rd on 28 points

Road home: Wainuiomata (home), Upper Hutt Rams (away), Poneke (home)

This time last year the Axemen were at the foot of the table, and now find themselves all the way up in third after seeing off Ories last weekend. Wellington hasn’t played Jubilee Cup rugby since 1995 and are on course to end that 20-year drought; and boast the best defensive record in the competition. It’s a tricky finish though, with all three sides they face still, as of this week, in the mix themselves. They welcome Wainuiomata to Hataitai Park for the only matchup this weekend of sides presently in the top eight.

Upper Hutt Rams

Currently: 4th on 27 points

Road home: OBU (away), Wellington (home), MSP (away)

The Rams have won three on the trot, though they left it beyond late to get past Norths last Saturday. That result could be crucial, as they venture to lock horns with a resurgent OBU this weekend at the Basin Reserve, then finish with matches against fellow top-eight sides. One win should be enough, while two would make it a certainty.

Marist St Pat's

Currently: 5th on 26 points

Road home: Paremata-Plimmerton (away), Norths (home), Upper Hutt Rams (home)

The current Swindale holders are in a rut, having lost their last three matches with even the club’s Twitter account describing the first-half against OBU with “Arguably worst half of MSP rugby in recent years sees the side trail 0-26 at the half”. Fa’atonu Fili was badly missed on Saturday, while his nominal back-up Andrew Wells will be absent for a few more weeks due to glandular fever. The trip to neutral Ian Galloway Park and bottom-side Paremata-Plimmerton this weekend will be an opportunity to put the ship back on course towards the Jubilee Cup places.

Oriental-Rongotai

Currently: 6th on 26 points

Road home: Johnsonville (away), Avalon (home), HOBM (home)

The Magpies run of five straight wins was brought to a shuddering halt at the hands of Wellington, and found themselves overtaken not only by the Axemen, but by the Rams as well. On paper their next two games seem straightforward, coming against two of the bottom three sides, but last year’s upset loss to Johnsonville – who they visit this weekend – is testament that slip-ups can and do take place. If that happens again they could find several more sides have at least joined them.

Wainuiomata

Currently: 7th on 22 points

Road home: Wellington (away), Poneke (away), OBU (home)

Wainui took a very large step towards returning to the Jubilee Cup in ending Tawa’s unbeaten run, though may need more of the same to make it a certainty. This week’s trip to high-flying Wellington will not be easy, while the matches against Poneke and OBU that follow could both be do-or-die encounters.

Petone

Currently: 8th on 22 points

Road home: Avalon (away), Johnsonville (away), Tawa (home)

Like Ories, the Villagers face two of the bottom-three in their run in, and that’s following taking maximum points from Paremata-Plimmerton last Saturday. If they do the same from their next two away trips then they should be well-placed prior to hosting Tawa in the last round. If they don’t they could face a very difficult assignment in their last match, while if they were to slip up themselves they could find themselves consigned to the Hardham Cup before that game. Their match against Avalon is now at Maidstone Park.

Old Boys-University

Currently: 9th on 21 points

Road home: Upper Hutt Rams (home), Paremata-Plimmerton (home), Wainuiomata (away)

Being in the thick of the qualification dogfight is something the Goats are familiar with, seemingly finding themselves in it every year. After dismantling MSP last weekend and with their U20 representative contingent returning they will be back to full-strength this weekend for their Old Timers’ Day and first run on the Basin Reserve for the year; and will undoubtedly back themselves to make the Jubilee Cup with two home games before a trip to William Jones in the last round.

Norths

Currently: 10th on 21 points

Road home: Tawa (away), MSP (away), Avalon (away)

As if the task for Norths wasn’t challenging enough, they have to do it all on the road as Porirua Park is unavailable for the next six weeks owing to its role as a training venue for the U20 Football World Cup. Last week’s last-gasp loss could be a crushing blow; as if they’d held on they’d be on 24 points and in 7th place. If they fall to Tawa, their challenge could be over.

Poneke

Currently: 11th on 20 points

Road home: HOBM (away), Wainuiomata (home), Wellington (away)

Poneke’s win over Avalon kept them in the mix, but have the toughest finish of all the teams involved. They would be doing more than just themselves a favour if they were to topple HOBM this weekend, though if they do they would likely have to repeat that effort in each of the following weeks as well.

Johnsonville

Currently: 12th on 9 points

Road home: Ories (home), Petone (away), Paremata-Plimmerton (home)

Avalon

Currently: 13th on 1 point

Road home: Petone (home), Ories (away), Norths (home)

Paremata-Plimmerton

Currently: 14th on 1 point

Road home: MSP (home), OBU (away), Johnsonville (away)

Johnsonville are mathematically still alive, but need to win all their remaining matches with bonus points and hope that four of the five sides ahead of them on the table all fail to win any of their last three. Realistically they, Avalon, and Paremata-Plimmerton, are all destined for the Hardham Cup but can still spoil the chances of those in the mix. All three sides play at home this weekend.

All Premier matches kick off at 2.30pm

Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield

An added complication for some of the Hardham Cup hopefuls is the fate of their senior team. If their Premiers end up in the Hardham Cup, then the second side will be ineligible for promotion under WRFU rules. The top six sides (following promotion of two to the Hardham) will contest the Ed Chaney Cup, with the bottom six playing for the HD Morgan Cup.

Tawa

Currently: 1st on 39 points

Road home: Norths (home), HOBM (away), Petone (away)

The unbeaten leaders are in the box seat and a bonus point win in this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Norths at Redwood Park at 12.30pm will assure them a place in the Hardham Cup, providing their Premiers qualify for the Jubilee Cup. The Harper Lock Shield will have to wait at least one more week though, no matter what the results are.

Norths

Currently: 2nd on 35 points

Road home: Tawa (away), MSP (away), Avalon (away)

They can tie of pull ahead of Tawa for the title if they win their clash, but can also be passed by Poneke and Petone if they don’t. And in any case they’ll be sweating on their Premier side’s fortunes to even be eligible for the Hardham Cup.

Poneke

Currently: 3rd on 33 points

Road home: HOBM (away), Wainuiomata (home), Wellington (away)

Their fate in terms of the Hardham Cup could be determined by their Premier sides result this weekend, though they will be well in contention for the Harper Lock if they beat HOBM away at Trafalgar Park and Norths topple Tawa.

Petone

Currently: 4th on 32 points

Road home: Avalon (away), Johnsonville (away), Tawa (home)

Another side who’s Hardham ambitions depend on their top side. They can pull into the top two with wins the next two weeks combined with results elsewhere, though could face the challenge of heading off Tawa (who could then be going for an unbeaten round) on the last round to secure their place. Saturday they are at Maidstone Park Artificial against Avalon.

Wellington

Currently: 5th on 30 points

Road home: Wainuiomata (home), Upper Hutt Rams (away), Poneke (home)

The Axemen are the only other side who could realistically make it to the Hardham Cup, and while they could still make it on merit; they are the side that would benefit if all of Norths, Poneke, and Petone are ineligible if their Premier sides miss the Jubilee Cup. They host Wainuiomata down the road at Kilbirnie Park No. 1 at 12.30pm.

The other matches in the grade this weekend are OBU against the Upper Hutt Rams at the St Pat’s Town Artificial at 12.30pm, Paremata-Plimmerton play MSP in town at Te Whaea at 12.30pm, and Johnsonville and Ories meet at neutral Nairnville Park No. 1 at 12.30pm.

Other grades

As mentioned at the top several of the lower grades have become casualties of the weather, with Colts, Under 85kg, Reserve, and Presidents Grade all being postponed.

The fifth round of the Women’s Fleurs Trophy was previewed here on Club Rugby yesterday. The four 11.30am kick-offs are highlighted by the clash between Oriental-Rongotai and Norths, while Wainuiomata and OBU meet, Avalon and HOBM clash, and Poneke encounters Johnsonville.

All four Women’s matches have been re-scheduled to be played at the Petone Rec No's. 1, 2, 3 and 4, all still 11.30 am kick-offs.

The Petone Brotherhood maintained their place at the top of the First Grade Thompson Memorial Trophy table in seeing off Tawa. Saturday they play the other winless side, MSP ‘A’, in a 2.30pm kickoff on the St Pats Artificial. HOBM play Tawa at the Maidstone Artificial at 2.30pm, while there are also 2.30pm starts for OBU and Poneke at Te Whaea, Petone ‘A’ and Norths at North Park (Petone) and Stokes Valley, who are also unbeaten, and MSP Avele at Delaney Park.

At the College level only the matches in the top Premier grading pools are going ahead; those were looked at in Wednesday’s preview piece. Even there Kapiti and Naenae Colleges have both defaulted, handing Premier 1 status to Rongotai and Tawa Colleges. The remaining Premier 1 paces will be decided in the clashes between St Bernard’s and Wairarapa in Lower Hutt at 12.30pm and between Hutt International and Porirua in Trentham at 2.30pm.